Culture news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Alabama’s unluckiest man survives being struck by lightning a year after he was hit by firework while undergoing chemotherapy
An Alabama firefighter, James Lawley, 36, of Joppa, has survived being struck by lightning at his daughter's birthday party last Sunday, just a year after a firework exploded in his face. The bolt hit his SUV, passed through his body and then travelled into a Cullman County firetruck, leaving Lawley grateful to be alive. His run of misfortune has led to him being dubbed the state's "unluckiest man".
Lawley told WVTM 13 that his only memory was grabbing his chest and saying "I'm hit, I'm hit". An EMT who treated him said he was fortunate to have survived, most likely because it was a secondary strike rather than a direct one. The incident came exactly a year after a firework that had toppled sideways blew up as he tried to set it upright, leaving a wound near his nose that required stitches. Lawley now jokes that he has only "four lives left".
In short
- Alabama firefighter survives lightning strike at daughter's birthday party.
- It came exactly a year after a firework exploded in his face.
- An EMT said surviving a secondary strike likely saved him.
Explained simply
James Lawley is a 36-year-old firefighter from Joppa, Alabama. Over the past year, he has experienced an unusual series of serious accidents, leading him to be known as Alabama's "unluckiest man".
Lawley's streak of misfortune began about a year ago when a firework exploded in his face whilst he attempted to set it upright. This incident occurred whilst Lawley was undergoing chemotherapy treatment, and the accident left a wound near his nose requiring stitches.
Since that firework incident, Lawley has continued to experience serious accidents. The pattern of severe incidents occurring in rapid succession has drawn attention to his case.
Art Culture Health Mental Health World